TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular structure of the hair cell mechanoelectrical transduction complex
AU - Cunningham, Christopher L.
AU - Müller, Ulrich
N1 - Funding Information:
This work is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (U.M., DC005965, DC014713, DC014427, DC016960; C.L.C., DC015724). U.M. is a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press; all rights reserved;.
PY - 2019/5
Y1 - 2019/5
N2 - Cochlear hair cells employ mechanically gated ion channels located in stereocilia that open in response to sound wave–induced motion of the basilar membrane, converting mechanical stimulation to graded changes in hair cell membrane potential. Membrane potential changes in hair cells cause neurotransmitter release from hair cells that initiate electrical signals in the nerve terminals of afferent fibers from spiral ganglion neurons. These signals are then propagated within the central nervous system (CNS) to mediate the sensation of hearing. Recent studies show that the mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) machinery of hair cells is formed by an ensemble of proteins. Candidate components forming the MET channel have been identified, but none alone fulfills all criteria necessary to define them as pore-forming subunits of the MET channel. We will review here recent findings on the identification and function of proteins that are components of the MET machinery in hair cells and consider remaining open questions.
AB - Cochlear hair cells employ mechanically gated ion channels located in stereocilia that open in response to sound wave–induced motion of the basilar membrane, converting mechanical stimulation to graded changes in hair cell membrane potential. Membrane potential changes in hair cells cause neurotransmitter release from hair cells that initiate electrical signals in the nerve terminals of afferent fibers from spiral ganglion neurons. These signals are then propagated within the central nervous system (CNS) to mediate the sensation of hearing. Recent studies show that the mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) machinery of hair cells is formed by an ensemble of proteins. Candidate components forming the MET channel have been identified, but none alone fulfills all criteria necessary to define them as pore-forming subunits of the MET channel. We will review here recent findings on the identification and function of proteins that are components of the MET machinery in hair cells and consider remaining open questions.
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U2 - 10.1101/cshperspect.a033167
DO - 10.1101/cshperspect.a033167
M3 - Article
C2 - 30082452
AN - SCOPUS:85065523724
SN - 2157-1422
VL - 9
JO - Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
JF - Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine
IS - 5
M1 - a033167
ER -